Shipwrights News

The Board of Directors of the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) has appointed Catherine Mulvihill as its new CEO.Mulvihill is undergoing a comprehensive management of change process in collaboration with the current CEO, Peter Stanley, and will officially assume full responsibilities as IFAN’s CEO on October 9, 2023.She brings a wealth of experience spanning four decades in the marine industry, including extensive knowledge in container shipping and operations, ports and terminals, and marine insurance within both mutual management and the London and commercial markets.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility employees and ship’s force worked together to repair the anchor windlass on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in about a third of the time it took previously.The anchor windlass is comprised of motors, gears and other parts responsible for the controlled lowering and raising of the chain and anchor, which can weigh up to 200,000 pounds on a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. It's a difficult job that requires much planning and complicated execution.According to Shawn Carragher and Zac Malone…

Naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy Foreship said it has appointed Brendan Harris as Director, Project Management Services, Foreship LLC, as the firm aims to grow its US-based business activities.Harris will be based at Foreship’s Seattle offices and take responsibility for driving regional growth in the group’s project management of ship refurbishment, focusing on returning demand in the cruise sector and opportunities in the ferry market.Harris joins Foreship from BC Ferry Services…

William A. O’Neil, Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has died in the United Kingdom, aged 93.O’Neil was elected Secretary-General of the IMO for a first term of Office beginning in 1990, a second term beginning in 1994, a third term beginning in 1998 and a further two-year term from 2002 to 31 December 2003. He was the second longest serving Secretary-General of IMO.Current IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim expressed his sincere condolences to the Canadian Government…

Veneto shipbuilder Vittoria Shipyard has marked its return to the construction of harbor and coastal tugs with its latest delivery to the port authority in Skikda, Algeria.The new tug C.869 was ordered in December 2016 by the Algerian Transport Ministry for a cost of €7 million and was delivered in June during an official handover from representatives of the Vittoria Shipyard to a delegation from the Algerian port authority.Following the launch at the end of last year and on-site personnel training…

U.K. shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co has secured an order to build a new 39-meter low wash, high-speed catamaran ferry for operation by Twin City Liner on the Danube River between Vienna and Bratislava. The new vessel is scheduled to be delivered in time for the 2019 summer season, starting at the end of March. Incat Crowther said it was selected as the designer after its staff viewed the operation on the Danube first-hand, affording a detailed understanding of the complex operational requirements.

A ceremony raising the flag of the Russian Federation and naming a new multifunctional icebreaking platform supply vessel, Yevgeny Primakov, took place on February 3, 2018 in Saint Petersburg. The vessel was built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, a subsidiary of the United Shipbuilding Corporation; technical supervision was carried out by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS), which assigned the vessel a high ice class – Icebreaker6. Yevgeny Primakov’s design and construction…

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has made a new appointment to the role of Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSRep) Maritime Salvage & Intervention, which oversees the response to accidents at sea. Les Chapman has been appointed to the role and will join the Agency on Monday 21 August. He will work alongside the existing SOSRep Hugh Shaw OBE for several months, to allow a substantial transition period in this important role, and will not assume the role and responsibilities of the SOSRep until an agreed time later on in the year. The SOSRep is responsible for reducing the risk to safety and the environment arising from accidents at sea.

U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said the structure of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is now 50 percent complete. The second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier CVN 79 grew about 70 feet in length with the addition of the lower stern, which was recently lifted into place at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. Like Ford, which was delivered to the Navy earlier this month, Kennedy is being built using modular construction, a process where smaller sections of the ship are welded together to form larger structural units (called “superlifts”)…

Merseyside shipyard and engineering company Cammell Laird held a special ceremony to launch a unique kite boat designed to raise funds for charity Claire House Children’s Hospice. The ‘CL Challenger’ was designed by retired shipyard naval architect Bill Owen incorporating a kite as the main power source to propel the vessel. The eco-friendly vessel also generates electric power for radio, lights and GPS through batteries charged via solar panel. It will now be used by a team of intrepid kite surfers for a range of sea-faring challenges to raise vital cash for the Bebington children’s charity.

Mustang Marine, which is under a new ownership and management structure after being bought out of administration in May 2014 by a group of nine investors, has completed a broad range of orders in what was a successful second half of 2014, the company reports. Now, the Pembroke Dock-based firm says it is actively recruiting skilled workers and apprentices to meet a busy work schedule going into the New Year. Mustang Marine has created 12 new jobs over the last six months, bringing the total workforce to 42 people.

Composite high-speed craft designer and builder CTruk has appointed shipbuilding industry veteran Peter McIntosh OBE to succeed Andy White as chairman. McIntosh, the former executive director of VT Group PLC, holds experience of the marine and defense industries and will steer the innovative company through its next stage of growth, CTruk said. White will remain on the board as an executive director. Managing director Ben Simpson will be working closely with McIntosh on implementing…

Having detailed instructions for each shipbuilding task and precise sequencing of the workflow is creating efficiencies and reducing rework at shipyards on the east and west coasts of the US. The work packs that Senesco Marine’s tradesmen are working from provide instructions—including checks and balances and dimensions—for each step of the process. “The person cutting the angles to go on panels has a cut sheet with instructions on how to cut every angle,” explains Joe Bush, VP Operations at Senseco Marine in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

W-Class Yacht Company is expanding its family of yachts to include 100’, 123’ and 135’ models. The first of the new designs, the W.123', was developed by Bruce Johnson (formerly of Sparkman & Stephens) in collaboration with Rockport Marine Yacht Design. The new racer/cruiser yachts will retain the ‘Spirit of Tradition’ and performance attributes of the existing W-Class Yacht Company’s W.37’, W.46’ and W.76’ models. The W-Class yachts will be built at Front Street Shipyard in Belfast…

In fact, shipwrights at Nerpa have built a new ship. Only the hull remained from Yauza; the deck erection and equipment was demounted. During the total retrofitting, the ship's living quarters was completed, and up-to-date control systems were installed. The ship has not only changed external appearance but was conversed from a dry cargo vessel into a Project 550M ice-class passenger/cargo ship. After launching and outfitting works, the ship will pass dockside and state trials to test all onboard systems and equipment.

San Marcos, California-based SD Model Makers expands range with its tall ship model offering. SD Model Makers master model shipwrights produce models in magnificent detail. From hand laid decks, tarred standing rigging, complex running rigging and furled sails to Nelson's HMS Victory's copper-sheathed hull, each model is a museum quality masterpiece. Each model comes fully assembled with a solid hull – hand carved from kiln-dried mahogany. Other parts are made from a variety of woods, putty, resin and metals.

Underwater metal detector is successfully used for the African Slave Wrecks Project. In October 1619 the naval warship Warwick sailed into the King’s Castle Harbour in Bermuda with an important cargo from England; the colony’s new governor, Captain Nathaniel Butler. After taking on provisions the Warwick was to travel onto the struggling colony at Jamestown, Virginia, but it never made the voyage. Before the ship could sail, Bermuda was hit by a fierce hurricane. Battered by strong winds the Warwick broke free from her anchors…

Research ship Yantar is the lead Project 22010 oceanographic vessel developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau. The ship was laid down on July 8, 2010 on the 65-th anniversary of Yantar Shipyard and named after it. The orderer was obtained from the Russian Defense Ministry. According to the contract, the ship is to be delivered in 2013. The hull of Yantar has been completely shaped; most of general-purpose equipment, rudder propellers, and lateral thrusters have been installed. Shipwrights continue the construction of the superstructure and fitting of internal equipment.

According to a Sept. 13 report from BBC News, a ship thought to be the last steamcoaster in the world is preparing to head to her new home after a $2.9m restoration in Suffolk. The steamcoaster, built in 1890 and listed on the National Historic Fleet register, has been converted into a floating museum. She will stay at the Port of Tilbury for up to a year while a decision is made on her London base. The SS Robin was taken to Lowestoft in 2008 to undergo conservation work and repairs to her riveted structure. The work has been funded by Crossrail. Project management consultants Kampfner Limited led a team of East Anglian and London-based marine consultants, engineers, naval architects and shipwrights in the two-year restoration project. (Source: BBC News)

Jennifer Kuhn of Seattle, Wash. has joined the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD as a shipwright apprentice. Prior to joining CBMM, Kuhn earned her applied science degree from Seattle Central Community College’s marine carpentry program and her BA in fine arts and education from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md. Through work with Seattle Shipwrights, Kuhn helped repair and restore a variety of boats including longliners, commercial tugboats and the 54-ft 1930s Stevens-built Sea Dog.

In recognition of her upcoming centennial, the tug Delaware is now being restored to her 1912 appearance in full public view at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. Delaware is a rare example of a typical early 20th century wooden river tug. Built in 1912 in Bethel, Delaware by William H. Smith, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s tug Delaware measures 39’8” x 11’4” and is now a floating exhibit at the museum’s waterfront campus. Delaware is a product…

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Andrew Cunningham, a former senior partner of Moore Stephens, will be held in London at 11.30 a.m. on Friday, 27 April at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate. Andrew Cunningham passed away on 31 January after a long illness, at the age of 66. He was with Moore Stephens all his working life. He joined the firm in 1963, became a partner in 1972, and retired in 2010. His career involved every aspect of the international shipping industry. He was particularly close to the Greek shipping community, and greatly admired its entrepreneurial spirit and family-based work ethic and he was a central figure in the opening-up to Moore Stephens of shipping in Russia and the Former Soviet Union.

An exact copy of Russia's first 58-cannon battleship God's Predestination was laid down at Pavlovsk Shipyard almost one year ago. The keel-laying ceremony was attended by Voronezh Governor Alexei Gordeyev and Metropolite Sergius. According to Nadezhda Marinkina, "undoubtedly, we'll implement the contract on the due time, in December. The most problematic issues such as project development and registration have been already resolved. Along with our subcontractor, JSC Varyag from Petrozavodsk, we have spent half of 200 million rubles appropriated for the ship construction.